BLAST (Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust) has expressed deep concern over the recent decision to include Senior Supreme Court Advocate ZI Khan as a defendant in a case related to an alleged murder attempt during the July student movement.
The organization is demanding the immediate withdrawal of his name from the case and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this decision.
On Saturday, following the student protests, a case was filed alleging an attempt to murder an individual, in which Advocate ZI Khan, a member of BLAST's trustee board and a veteran freedom fighter, has been named alongside 180 others.
This case was filed on Thursday, at the Khilgaon police station.
BLAST condemned the inclusion of Advocate Khan, emphasizing his long-standing commitment to fighting discrimination and advocating for the victims of the July movement.
He has tirelessly represented these individuals in court, recently appearing in a writ petition filed by Advocates Manzur Al Matin and Ainun Nahar.
During the proceedings, government lawyers reportedly labeled him a traitor and subjected him to harassment in court.
The organization stated that such harassment cases primarily serve to obstruct justice for the real victims of the July student movement.
In response, BLAST is urging the swift withdrawal of Advocate ZI Khan’s name from this baseless murder case.
They are also calling for urgent high-level initiatives to ensure justice for the July massacres, to provide immediate legal assistance to the injured and deceased, and to put a stop to any form of harassment against advocates involved in these cases.
